Cup dropping machine



May z2,l 1934. f

c. F. ADAMS CUP DROPPING IACHINE Filed uarch.- 1932 4 Smets-sheetV 1May'zz, 1934- i C. F. -ADAMs 1,959,327

- QUE DROPPING MACHINE I Filed March 3, 1932 4 sheets-'sheet` 2 ATTORNEYMay 22, 1934.

C. F. ADAMS CUP DROPPING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1932 4 SheetsiSheet 3ATTORNEY May 22, 1934. c. F. DA-,Ms

CUP DROPPINGACHINE Filed uarch 3. 1932 4 shts-sheet 4.

ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a cup dropping machine, wherein cups or otherobjects can be automatically dropped one at a time from a plurality ofthem.

The second object of the invention is the production of a machineWherewith a plurality of cups or other objectscan be automaticallyseparated from a plurality. of them to place them in position forfurther treatment.

l0 The' third object of the invention is the production of a cupdropping machine which can be charged with a plurality of cups, whichlatter can be separated from each other and dropped into pans or upon amovable conveyer.

In the accompanying drawings Fig'. 1 represents a side elevation andsection of Fig. 2 on the line 1, 1 of an exemplification of the improvedcup dropping machine. Fig. 2 shows a right hand side View of Fig. 1;Fig. 8 indicates a section of Fig. 1on the line 3, 3; Fig. 4 shows asection of the suction head of the paper cup dropping machine ason theline 4, 4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 represents a section Vof Fig. 4 on the line5, 5; Fig.` 6 indicates .a section of Fig. 5.on the line 6, 6

Fig. '7 shows an enlarged section in part of Fig. 2 on the line 7, 7;Fig. 8 indicates a section of Fig. 7 on the line 8, 8; Fig. 9 shows apartial right hand view of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 indicates .an elevation ofone of the corrugated cups; Fig. 11 is a top view of Fig. 10 and Fig. 12shows a fragmentary portion of Fig. 7 with a modification.

The cup dropping machine in this instance comprises the side frames 20and 21, which are supportedon four castors 22, of which two are shown.The frames 20 and 21 are connected by the spacer bolts 25, and the pairof cross connecting bars 26 at the upper ends of said frames. Pairs oflongitudinal supplemental frames 30 and 31 have their inner endsfastened to the side frames 20 and 21, by means of the bolts 32. At theouter ends of the frames 30 are for-med the guide openings 34, which areprovided with the caps 35. A slide block 36 is guided in each opening 34and has in threaded engagement therewith the adjusting screw 37.

A cross shaft 40 has its end portions journaled in the slide blocks 36.Sprocket chain wheels 42 are fastened to the shaft 40. In the -outerends of the longitudinal frames 31, is journaled shaft 45, which hasfastened thereto the sprocket chain wheels 46. A ratchet wheel 47 isalso fastened to the shaft 45.

A ratchet lever 48 is loosely supportedl on the- Wheel 47. At the otherend of the ratchet lever 48 is pivoted one end of the connecting rod 50.A conveyer platform 51 having the openings 52 is supported between theframes 20 and 21 and between the pairs of longitudinal frames 30 and 31,by means of the brackets 53 extending from the 'frames 30 and 31. n

.A platform 55 is supported upon and fastened to the lugs 56 extendingfrom the side frames 20 and 2l. An electric motor 57 is supported uponand fastened to the platform 55. The armature shaft `of the electricmotor 57 is indicated at 57a and the latter has fastened thereto thepulleys 58 and 59. A housing is indicated at 60. A worm shaft 61 with aWorm 62 has one end journaled in the housing '60. A shaft 63 has one endjournaled in the housing and the other end of the shaft 63 is journaledin the bracket 64 supported on the platform 55. A worm wheel 66 isfastened to the shaft 63. The latter is in mesh with the worm 62. Apulley 67 is fastened to the shaft 61. A belt 68 connects the pulleys 59and 67.

A vacuum pump 72 is supported on the platform 55.. A shaft for the pump72 is indicated at 73 and has fastened thereto the pulley 74. A- belt 75connects the pulleys 58 and 74.

A-disc and a cam 81 are fastened adjacent to one end of the shaft 63,and a disc 82 and a cam 83 are fastened to the other en d of said shaft.The connecting rod 50 has one end thereof pinned to the disc 80 by meansof the pin 84.

A lever 88 has one end pivoted to the frame 20 by means of the, pin 89.At the other end of the lever88 is pinned the connecting rod 90 by meansof the pin 91. A roller is pivoted to the lever 88, and is adapted tovbear against the cam 81. A spring 96 has one end fastened to the lever88 and its other end is fastened to the` frame 20.

A bell crank having the arms 97 and 98 is pivoted to the frame 21, bymeans of the pivot 99. 95

A roller 100 is pivoted to the arm 98 and bears against the cam 83. Aspring has one end fastened to the arm 97 and its other end is fastenedto the frame 21. A connecting rod 106 has one end pinned to" the arm 97by the pin 107. 100

Piping comprising the portions 109 and 110 extends from the vacuum pump72 and has connected thereto the valve housing 111, for details seeFigs. 7 and 9. The said valve housing has integral therewith thevertical openings 112 and 105 113 and the horizontal part 114. A valve115 is indicated having the arms 116 and 117 with the hub 11'8. vAsecond valve 115a, is indicated havv ing the arms 119 and 120 with thehub 121. An

opening 122 is formed in the hub 118 and an 110 opening 123 is formed inthe hub 121. A pivot screw 125 in the housing 111 supports the arm 117,and a pivot screw 126 in the housing 111 supports the arm 119. Theconnecting rod 106, has one end pivoted to the arm 120. A pair ofbrackets 130 extend from the platform 51 and support the shaft 132. Toone end of the shaft 132 is fastened the arm 133. A spring 134 has oneend fastened to the arm 133 and its other end is fastened to the frame21. A connectingV rod 135 has its ends pivoted to the arms 116 and 133by the pins 136 and 137. A pair of regulating arms 139 and 140 havetheir hub ends fastened to the shaft 132. v,

A link 145 (see Figs. 1 and 2) has one end pivoted to the disc 82 bymeans of the pivot 146. A gear segment is shown with the arms 150 and151 and is pivoted to the frame 21 by means of the pivot 152, and thearm 150 is shown with the teeth 153. 'I'he arm 151 is pivoted to thelink 145, by means of the pivot 154.

A shaft 156 has its ends journaledin the frames 20 and 21 and hasfastened thereto the spur gears 157 and 158.

A pair of sprocket chains 165 (see Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) are eachindicated `with the pairs of links 166 and 167. The latter links haveintegral therewith the projecting portions 168, that have fastenedthereto the cross bars 169.' The links 166 and 167 are slidable on theguide ways 170 extending up from the platform 51. Pusher pins 172 extendfrom the cross bars 169. Angle shaped brackets 176 extend from theconveyer platform 51. A pair of longitudinal guide bars 177 are fastenedto the brackets 176. Clusters or nests of pans 178 having the cavities179 are positioned upon the conveyer platform 5l, between the guide bars177 and the pusher pins 172.

A pair of guide strips 181 (see Figs. 1 and 2) extend from each of theframes 20 and 21.

A rack bar 182 with the rack teeth 183 is guided between one pair ofguide strips 181.

A similar rack bar 185 having the rack teeth 186 is guided in the otherpair of guide strips `181. Cover guide plates 188 are fastened to eachpair of the guide strips 181. An. L shaped bracket having the arms 190and 191 is fastened to the rack bar 185 by means of the bolts 192. Asimilar L shaped bracket having the arms 193 and 194, is guided in theother pair of guide strips 181and is fastened to the rack bar 182. A Tbar 195 connects the arms 190 and 193. A tube'198 closed at itslendsextends through openings in the arms 191 and 194. Flexible tubes 200extend from the tube 198 to the manifold 205. which latter is supportedon the frame 21. 'I'he portion of piping 110 is connected to themanifold 205. Flexible tubes 212 extend upwardly from tube 198. A tube21'4 has its ends rotatably supported in the arms 191 and 194. A spurgear 215 is fastened to the tube 214. A controlling (for detail seeFigs. 4

Aand 5) shaft 216 is slidably positioned in the tube -the numeral225.Each suction headY comprisesV the barrel 228, which at its lower end hasintegral therewith the foot 2,29, and at its upper end is indicated thehead per-se 230, which 'end 241 and the outer curved end 242, and ineach of said fingers is -formed the longitudinal port 243 which connectwith cavity 234. A vertical suction nger 245 is indicated with the port246 having the flared end 247.

A cover 250 for the head 230 is heldin position by the screws 251. A lug252 is formed with the l cover 250. A leaf spring 253 has one endfastened to the lug 252 and its other end extends into a recessof thevertical nnger 245. Leaf springs 254v have each one of their endsfastened to'one of the pads 238 and the other ends of the springs 254engage recesses in the horizontal fingers 240. s

A cap 255 is fastened to the foot 229, by the bolts 256. The cap 255 iskeyed to the tube 215 by means of the key 257.

An operating plunger 260 is shown with the lower tapered end 261 and theupper tapered end 262. A longitudinal port 263 with the nozzle end 264is formed in the plunger 260. vCross ports 265 and 266 extend from theport 263.

The cross ports 265 are positioned at the lower portion of the plungerand the ports 266 at its upper end.

A supporting plate 272 (see Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5) having a plurality ofopenings 273 is fastened to the connecting bars 26. Cup supply cylinders275 have their lower ends positioned in each of the openings 273. Inthis instance the walls of the cylinders 275 are corrugated as shown at276. At the lower end of each cylinder 275 are fastened the cup stoplugs 277.

A cross shaft 280 has its ends fastened to the arms 190 and 193. A gearsegment 281 is rotatably supported on the shaft 280, and at one endthereof has integral therewith the teeth 282, and at the other end ofthe segment 281 is journaled the'roller 283. A helical' spring 284 hasone end fastened to the shaft 280 and its other end is fastened to thesegment 281. An

'adjusting screw 285 extends from the arm 190.A

A stop lug 287 is fastened to the frame 21.l A lug 290 extends from theframe 20, and has pivoted thereto the bell crank having the arms 291 and292.

The arm 292 bears against the end 217 of the shaft 216, and the arm 291is pivoted to the upper end of the connecting rod 90'.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the paper cups 294 to be dropped are eachindicated with the tapered corrugated side wall 295 and the fiat bottomWall 296.

To use the machine the cup supply cylinders 275 are charged with thepaper cups 294 in inverted position.

The electric motor 57 is started by means of which the vacuum pump 72 isoperated, and the shaft 63 is turned. With the shaft 63, the discs 80and 82 and the cams 81 and 83 are turned. The disc'BO through theconnecting rod 50, the ratchet wheel 47 and the pawl 49 impartintermittent rotation to the shaft 45. By this `means the sprocketchains 165 have imparted to them intermittent movements. With movementsof the sprocket chains 165, the

pans 178 are given intermittent movements by the pusher pins 172, andare brought axially below the suction heads 225.

As each row of pans ofthe clusters of pans moves under the suction heads225, two pans of each row contact with the arms 139 and 140. The latterare swung as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 7. Thereby the arm 116 isswung to its dotted position shown in said Fig. 7 on they pivot screw125. By this means the opening 122 in the hub 118 registers with theport 114.

At the same time the coaction of the cam 83 with the roller moves theconnecting rod 106 in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. 7 and theopening 123 of the hub 121 is positioned to register with the port 114.With this disposition of parts a partial vacuum is produced in theportions of piping 109, 110 and in the exible tubes 200, 212. A partialvacuum is thereby also produced inthe ports 263 of the suction heads225. Just a little time before the vacuum is produced the coaction ofthe cam 81 with the roller 95 on the lever 88, the connecting rod 90,and the bell crank arm 292, the controlling shaft 216 is moved in thedirection of the arrow C (Fig. 3). By this means the operating plungers260 are raised, and the horizontal suction fingers 240 are spread andthe vertical suction fingers 245 are raised and contact with thelowermost cup in each cup supply cylinder 275. After a vacuum isobtained the vertical suction .fingers 245 pull down Athe cups 294 andthe horizontal suction fingers 240 pull in and contract `the walls 295ofthe cups 294 vto clear the stop lugs 277. After each cup 294 has beendrawn in by the suction fingers 240 and 245, the link 145! moves to theleft in the direction of the arrow F (Fig. 1), which swings the segmenthaving the arms 150, 151, and thereby the spur. gear 158 turns in thedirection of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1.

The rack bars 182 and'185- will thereby descend and with movement of thelatter, the L shaped brackets having the arms 190, 191, 193, 194 arelowered as well as the gear segment 281, and the controlling shaft 216with the suction heads 225, are lowered.

The roller 283 lowers until it strikes the stop lug 287, and then thegear segment 281 swings on the cross shaft 280, and the spur gear 215will turn in the direction of the arrow G (Fig. 1).

By this means the suction head 225 will revolve in the direction of thearrow G through an angle of 180 degrees. Just after the suction headshave been inverted the cam 83 coacts with the bell crank having the arms97 and 98, Awhich latter through the connecting rod 106 actuates the4valve `115a, by which the vacuum in the suction heads 225 will bebroken. Then the paper cups 294 will be released from all the suctionfingers of the suction heads 225 and will drop into the cavities 179 ofthe pans 178. cups 294 have been deposited into the cavities of the pans178, the sprocket chains 165 move in the direction indicated by thearrow H, Fig. 1, and the pusher pins 172 move the pans in the samedirection. After the paper cups 294 have been deposited in the pans 178,the suction heads 225 are revolved to their original position. This isaccomplished by the disc 82 coacting with the link 145, the gear segmenthaving the arms 150,151, the spur gear`158, and the rack bars 182, and185, which latter rise. As soon as the rack bars rise the spring 284swings up the gear segment` 281 in the direction of the arrow H' untilit strikes the adjusting screw 285, when the suction heads After thepaper been broken, the cam 81 coacting with the lever 88, the connectingrod 90, the bell crank arm 292 and the spring 219, the controlling'l rodv216 will be moved in a direction opposite to the arrow C, Fig. 3 andthereby the operating plungers 260 will be lowered by the fingers 240and 245 bearing against the upper end of the operating plungers 260,through the tension of the springs 253 and 254.

Referring to Fig. 12the connecting rods 106 and 135 are again shown. Alever 300 is pivoted to the side frame 21 and has one end pinned to theconnecting rod 135. A bell crank having the arms 302 and 303, is alsopivoted to the side frame 21. The arm 302 is pinned to the connect ingrod 106. The portions of piping 109 and 110 are again shown and betweenthem is indicated the piping 305 with the gate valve 306 having thevalve rod 307 and the gate valve 308 having the valve rod 309. The valverod 307 is connected to the lever 300 and the valve rod 309 is connectedto the arm 303. The valves 306 and 308 function in the same manner asdescribed for the valves having the hubs 118 and 121. l

It will be noted that the cups dropped by the machine may have Variousshapes and may be of paper, metal or other suitable material and that inplace of the cups, caps of metal, paper and other material: may bedropped and secured in place en bottles and the like.

Instead of the sprocket chains v165 with their appurtenances an ordinarybelt conveyer may -be used.

The vertical suction fingers .245 may be used without the horizontalsuction fingers 240 of the heads 225, or the suction head may be usedwithout suction fingers, and the longitudinal port 263 may bel used withcross ports through the head 230. f

The pans 178 may be dispensed with and the lobjects dropped by themachine 'may drop dlsbars 177 form pockets for the nests of pans.

The vertical suction fingers 245 may be dispensed with, and thehorizontal suction fingers 240 only may be used with the suction heads`225.

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the presentexempliflcaton is to be taken as illustrative and not limitativethereof.

Having described my invention what desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim 1is:

1. In a cup dropping machine, the combination of a cup supply cylinder,asuction head supported in said machine, means to revolve said headthrough an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees and position itaxially in line with said cup supply cylinder, movable suction fingerssupported at the outer end of the suction head adapt-v ed to engage acup of said cup supply cylinder and means to produce a partial 'vacuumin said suction fingers to draw said cup to said fingers, and holdsaidcup on said fingers.

2. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a frame, a row ofcupsupply cylinders detach- 151' supported in the outer end portion ofeach suction head, means to move said fingers to contact their outerends with a cup in .each of said cylinders and means to produce apartial vacuum in each of said fingers to draw said cups to said fingers-and hold them clamped thereto' and means to break said vacuum when saidsuction heads are in their inverted position to release said cups fromsaid fingers.

3. In a cup dropping machine the combination of cup supply cylinders,stop lugs at the lower end of each cylinder, said cylinders havingtherein a plurality of cups one over the other in inverted position, theopen end of the lowermost cup in each cylinder bearing on said stoplugs, suction heads revolvably positioned below said cylinders, a headper-se at one end of each suctionhead, means to raise said suction headsto enter their heads per-se, into their corresponding cup supplycylinders, and to disengage said heads per-se from said cylinders,fingers slidably supported .in each head per-se, means to'reciprocatesaid fingers, means to produce a partial vacuum in said suction head andsaid fingers, to clamp said cups one after the other to said fingers andthereby clear said cups from said stop lugs, means to revolve saidsuction heads to locate them in inverted position and means to breaksaid partial vacuum to release saidcups from Asaid fingers when saidsuction heads are located in their inverted position.

4. In a cup dropping machinethe combination of a cup supply cylinderhaving a plurality of cups therein, one over the other in invertedposition, stop lugs at the lower end of the cylinder adapted to supportthe edge of the lowermost cup, a suction head in the machine means tovertically move said head in opposite directions and also to revolvesaid head in opposite directions, a tube supporting one end of thesuction head, a controlling shaft slidably supported in said tube, anoperating plunger in said suction head, said plunger having alongitudinal port and cross ports adjacent to its ends, a cover for thesuction head, horizontal suction fingers slidably supportci in the outerend of the suction head, a 'vertical suction finger slidably supportedin said cover, means to reciprocate the-controlling shaft in said tube,and when moved in one direction, the coaction of the elements spreadingthe horizontal fingers and raising the vertical finger, to

contact the horizontal ngers. with inner sur-l face of the side wall ofthe lowermost cup and the vertical nger with the bottom wall of. thecup, means to produce a partial vacuum in said plungver and fingers todraw said cup to said fingers and cylinder, means to vertically Imove inopposite directions and alsoto revolve said head in opposite directions,said suction head comprising 'a barrel, a head at one end of the barrel,a foot at the other end of the barrel, a tube clamped to said foot, acontrolling shaft slidably supported in said tube, and having acontrolling groove in its surface, an operating plunger in said barrel,said plunger having a longitudinal port and cross ports at its lowerportion and at its upper end, a lower tapered end and an upper taperedend integral with the plunger, a cover for the head, horizontal suctionfingers having tapered inner ends slidably supported in the outer end ofthe suction head, the tapered ends of the horizontal fingers adapted tobear against the upper tapered end of the plunger, a vertical suctionfinger slidably supported in said cover'and adapted to bear on the top.end of the plunger, means to reciprocate the controlling shaft in saidtube and when moved in one direction raising the operating plunger andthereby spreading the horizontal fingers and raising the vertical fingertov contact the horizontal fingers with the inner surface of the sidewall of the lowermost cup and the vertical nger with the bottom wall ofthe cup, means to produce a partial vacuum in said plunger and fingersto draw said cup to'said fingers and means to force said fingers totheir closed position with a movement of the controlling shaft, thelatter movement of the fingers drawing the Walls of the cup clear of thestop lugs of the cup supply cylinder.

6. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a pair of frames, a rackbar guided on the inner face of each frame, a shaft between said framesand having its end journaled therein, a pair of spur` gears fastened tosaid shaft in mesh with said rack bars, means to turn the shaft inopposite directions, a bracket fastened to upper end of each `rack bar,a crossshaft having its ends fastened to said brackets, a gear segmentrotatably supported on said cross shaft, a helical spring having one endfastened to the cross shaft and its other end fastened to said gearsegment, a tube having its ends rotatably supported in said brackets, aspur fastened to said tube in mesh with said segment and a plurality ofsuction heads fastened to said tube. i

'7. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a pair of frames, arack bar guided on the inner face of each frame, a shaft between saidframes and having its ends journaled therein, a pair of spur gearsfastened to said shaft and in mesh with the teeth of said rack bars, agearsegment having a pairof arms pivoted to one of rsaid frames, theteeth of the segment integral with one of said arms, and in mesh withone of said spur gears, a rotating disc positioned adjacent to one ofsaid frames, a link having its ends pivoted to said disc and one of thearms of the gear segment, an L shaped bracket'fastened to the upper endof each rack bar, a cross shaft having its ends fastened to said Lshaped brackets, a second gear segment rotatably supported on said crossshaft, a helical spring having one end fastened to the cross shaft andits other end fastened to the second gear segment, a tube having itsends rotatably'supported in said L shaped brackets, a spur gear fastenedto said tube and in mesh with the second gear segment and a plurality ofsuction heads fastened to said tube, the said rack bars'with theircoacting elements raising and lowering the said tube with said suctionheads, and the second gear segmentco- A l acting with the spur gear onsaid tube turning the latter and thereby revolving the suction heads inone direction from their upright position, and said helical springcoacting with said second gear segment swinging the latter to turn thespur gear on said tube to revolve the suction heads in the oppositedirection and' locate them in their original upright position.

8. In a machine the combination of a cylinder for a plurality of objectsto be distributed, a suction head, means to move said suction head toenter it into said cylinder and withdraw it therefrom, means to revolvesaid head, a normally vertical suction flnger, slidably supported in thesuction head, means to produce a partial vacuum in said head and lingerand means to break said partial vacuum.

9. In a machine the combination of a cylinder for a' plurality ofobjects to be distributed, a suction head, means to move said head toenter it into said cylinder and withdraw it therefrom, means to revolvesaid head, normally horizontal suction fingers slidably supported insaid suction head,`means to produce a partial vacuum in said head andsuction fingers and means to break said partial vacuum.

10. In a machine the combination of a cylinder` for a plurality oflobjects to be distributed, i

a suction head, means to move said head to enterl it into said cylinderand withdraw it therefrom, means to revolve said head, a normallyvertical suction finger slidably supported in said suction head,normally horizontal suction ngers slidably supported in said head, meansto reciprocate said fingers, means to produce a partial vacuum in saidhead and suction fingers and means to break said partial vacuum.

11. In a machine the combination of a motor, a shaft journaled in themachine, connections between the shaft and motor, a vacuum pump in themachine, connections between the motor and said vacuum pump, suctionpiping extending from said pump, a pair of valves interposed in saidsuction piping, suction heads for supporting cups in connection withsaid suction piping, con.

nections' between said shaft and one of said valves to actuate, thelatter, a second shaft journaled in the machine, a regulating armextending from the second shaft, a moving element in the machine toswing said arm, connections between said arm and said second valve toopen the same, means to close the second valve and means to locate cupson said heads.

` CHARLES F. ADAMS.

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